Paul Newman should have won an Oscar, maybe more than one, but not for "The Color of Money."

Paul Newman should have won an Oscar, maybe more than one, but not for "The Color of Money."

Photo: Lois Bernstein / AP

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Jack Lemmon in "Save The Tiger." Finally Jack Lemmon won, and this is what he won for.

Jack Lemmon in "Save The Tiger." Finally Jack Lemmon won, and this is what he won for.

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Robert Donat in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips": Lovely, sweet performance, but he beat James Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

Robert Donat in "Goodbye, Mr. Chips": Lovely, sweet performance, but he beat James Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."

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GARY COOPER IN "SERGEANT YORK."

GARY COOPER IN "SERGEANT YORK."

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Humphrey Bogart in "The African Queen": Love the guy, but sorry.

Humphrey Bogart in "The African Queen": Love the guy, but sorry.

Photo: HO

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Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest": No, he should have won two years before, for "Chinatown."

Jack Nicholson in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest": No, he should have won two years before, for "Chinatown."

Photo: Anonymous / AP

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Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood."

Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood."

Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon / AP

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Henry Fonda in "On Golden Pond."

Henry Fonda in "On Golden Pond."

Photo: HANDOUT

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Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump": This wasn't even good for Hanks. He won two years in a row, which means they won't let him win again until he's 70.

Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump": This wasn't even good for Hanks. He won two years in a row, which means they won't let him win again until he's 70.

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Geoffrey Rush in "Shine." Nice guy, but very annoying perfomance.

Geoffrey Rush in "Shine." Nice guy, but very annoying perfomance.

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Art Carney ("Harry and Tonto.)"

Art Carney ("Harry and Tonto.)"

Photo: AP

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Roberto Benigni in "Life is Beautiful." They waited until he finally wasn't funny and then gave him an Oscar.

Roberto Benigni in "Life is Beautiful." They waited until he finally wasn't funny and then gave him an Oscar.

Photo: SERGIO STRIZZI

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Daniel Day-Lewis in "My Left Foot."

Daniel Day-Lewis in "My Left Foot."

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Laurence Olivier in "Hamlet."

Laurence Olivier in "Hamlet."

Photo: Universal Pictures International

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Because of James Stewart in "The Philadelphia Story," Warren Beatty lost in 1981. The explanation will follow . . . tomorrow.

Because of James Stewart in "The Philadelphia Story," Warren Beatty lost in 1981. The explanation will follow . . . tomorrow.

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Al Pacino in SCENT OF A WOMAN, 1992.

Al Pacino in SCENT OF A WOMAN, 1992.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Kevin Spacey in "American Beauty."

Kevin Spacey in "American Beauty."

Photo: Dreamworks / SFC

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Paul Lukas in "Watch On the Rhine." Totally fine performance, but he beat Humphrey Bogart in CASABLANCA, which, years later, is mind-boggling.

Paul Lukas in "Watch On the Rhine." Totally fine performance, but he beat Humphrey Bogart in CASABLANCA, which, years later, is mind-boggling.

Photo: Warners

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Broderick Crawford with his Oscar for "All the King's Men" -- the same year James Cagney wasn't nominated for WHITE HEAT.

Broderick Crawford with his Oscar for "All the King's Men" -- the same year James Cagney wasn't nominated for WHITE HEAT.

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Oscar's Mistakes -- Best Actor

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Today we take a look at mistakes that were made in the best actor category. Sometimes these Oscars were won by actors who should have won in other years. In some cases, these were notable performances but just happened to have stronger competition, at least from the standpoint of hindsight. But some of these choices are merely baffling.

Of course, there were more mistakes than these, so if you can think of any, let me know and I’ll add them on.

And for your convenience, here are Oscar’s Best Picture Mistakes:

Photo: ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ / AFP/Getty Images

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In fairness to ANNE HATHAWAY, she could easily have been nominated for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN or ONE DAY. But her Oscar in LES MISERABLES, for essentially wrecking the one good song in LES MISERABLES, has to stand as one of the worst Oscar choices of this generation. less

In fairness to ANNE HATHAWAY, she could easily have been nominated for BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN or ONE DAY. But her Oscar in LES MISERABLES, for essentially wrecking the one good song in LES MISERABLES, has to ... more

Photo: ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ / AFP/Getty Images

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Cher for her inauthentic performance as an Italian American woman in MOONSTRUCK. Holly Hunter should have won that year for BROADCAST NEWS.

Cher for her inauthentic performance as an Italian American woman in MOONSTRUCK. Holly Hunter should have won that year for BROADCAST NEWS.

Photo: Marc Biggins / Getty Images

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Daniel Day-Lewis in a scene from "There Will Be Blood." Fun and all that, but Clooney should have won for MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Daniel Day-Lewis in a scene from "There Will Be Blood." Fun and all that, but Clooney should have won for MICHAEL CLAYTON.

Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon / AP

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Braveheart (1995): A good, overlong action movie, but not close to being the best film of 1995. (Better: APOLLO 13, BEFORE SUNRISE . . .)

Braveheart (1995): A good, overlong action movie, but not close to being the best film of 1995. (Better: APOLLO 13, BEFORE SUNRISE . . .)

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"Slumdog Millionaire" (2008): Just a few years later, the movie has not dated well in memory. It's like a one-off anomaly that captured people's imaginations for a month, then lost them forever.

"Slumdog Millionaire" (2008): Just a few years later, the movie has not dated well in memory. It's like a one-off anomaly that captured people's imaginations for a month, then lost them forever.

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"Forrest Gump" (1994): One of the worst best picture winners in history -- plodding and sentimental and lauded for technical achievements that have since been surpassed a hundred times over. Plus, by winning twice in a row, Tom Hanks has had the mild misfortune of not winning Oscars for his more deserving work. less

"Forrest Gump" (1994): One of the worst best picture winners in history -- plodding and sentimental and lauded for technical achievements that have since been surpassed a hundred times over. Plus, by winning ... more

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American Beauty (1999): A not-bad film that won best picture.

American Beauty (1999): A not-bad film that won best picture.

Photo: Getty

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An American in Paris (1951): The quintessence of the 1950s Technicolor musicals -- big, colorful and flashy -- but not in the same league with A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE or A PLACE IN THE SUN, which were also nominated. less

An American in Paris (1951): The quintessence of the 1950s Technicolor musicals -- big, colorful and flashy -- but not in the same league with A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE or A PLACE IN THE SUN, which were also ... more

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Luise Rainer -- one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Oscar history. She was fine in THE GOOD EARTH, but Greta Garbo should have won for CAMILLE.

Luise Rainer -- one of the worst miscarriages of justice in Oscar history. She was fine in THE GOOD EARTH, but Greta Garbo should have won for CAMILLE.

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Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" -- totally fine, but not in the year of Streep in JULIE & JULIA.

Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side" -- totally fine, but not in the year of Streep in JULIE & JULIA.

Photo: Ralph Nelson / Warner Bros. Pictures

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Judy Holliday in BORN YESTERDAY -- fine. But better than Bette Davis in ALL ABOUT EVE?

Judy Holliday in BORN YESTERDAY -- fine. But better than Bette Davis in ALL ABOUT EVE?

Photo: Photo Copyright: / 1982 Columbia Pictures

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Art Carney in HARRY AND TONTO. Really? Not Pacino in GODFATHER PART II? Not Nicholson in CHINATOWN?

Art Carney in HARRY AND TONTO. Really? Not Pacino in GODFATHER PART II? Not Nicholson in CHINATOWN?

Photo: AP

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Cavalcade (1932-33): OK, old-fashioned, nothing special.

Cavalcade (1932-33): OK, old-fashioned, nothing special.

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A Man for All Seasons (1966): A dry respectable film at a time when there were stronger alternatives. Like WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF.

A Man for All Seasons (1966): A dry respectable film at a time when there were stronger alternatives. Like WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF.

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Crash: A truly brilliant Oscar campaign made this the alternative to "Brokeback Mountain," at a time when some Oscar voters were looking for one. It's a decent film, but it felt staid and nostalgic even in its own time. less

Crash: A truly brilliant Oscar campaign made this the alternative to "Brokeback Mountain," at a time when some Oscar voters were looking for one. It's a decent film, but it felt staid and nostalgic even in ... more

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Barbra Streisand in FUNNY GIRL. It hasn't dated well.

Barbra Streisand in FUNNY GIRL. It hasn't dated well.

Photo: Chronicle Photo Archive

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Driving Miss Daisy (1989): No excuse for this one. In a good year for movies, the Academy looked back instead of forward. (DO THE RIGHT THING would have been a better choice.)

Driving Miss Daisy (1989): No excuse for this one. In a good year for movies, the Academy looked back instead of forward. (DO THE RIGHT THING would have been a better choice.)

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Hilary Swank was fine in MILLION DOLLAR BABY -- but should she really have won a second Oscar over Annette Bening ("Being Julia").

Hilary Swank was fine in MILLION DOLLAR BABY -- but should she really have won a second Oscar over Annette Bening ("Being Julia").

Photo: Merie W. Wallace / AP

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Katharine Hepburn in Stanley Kramer's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" Basically they gave her a life achievement award, not realizing she was just getting started.

Katharine Hepburn in Stanley Kramer's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" Basically they gave her a life achievement award, not realizing she was just getting started.

Two that shouldn't have happened in one picture. James Stewart won for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (instead of Henry Fonda for THE GRAPES OF WRATH) and Ginger Rogers won for KITTY FOYLE.

Two that shouldn't have happened in one picture. James Stewart won for THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (instead of Henry Fonda for THE GRAPES OF WRATH) and Ginger Rogers won for KITTY FOYLE.

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How Green Was My Valley (1941): Famous as the film that beat "Citizen Kane."

How Green Was My Valley (1941): Famous as the film that beat "Citizen Kane."

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French actress Leslie Caron in the title role of 'Gigi', directed by Vincente Minnelli, 1958. Charming, the best of the films nominated, but . . . how about VERTIGO, which wasn't nominated?

French actress Leslie Caron in the title role of 'Gigi', directed by Vincente Minnelli, 1958. Charming, the best of the films nominated, but . . . how about VERTIGO, which wasn't nominated?

Photo: HANDOUT

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In the Heat of the Night (1967): They called him Mr. Tibbs, and that was fine, but in many ways this was just a routine thriller that pressed the right buttons, as opposed to a great film -- and 1967 had several of them. (E.G., BONNIE AND CLYDE) less

In the Heat of the Night (1967): They called him Mr. Tibbs, and that was fine, but in many ways this was just a routine thriller that pressed the right buttons, as opposed to a great film -- and 1967 had ... more

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Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN -- lots of fun, but not better than Marlon Brando in STREETCAR.

Humphrey Bogart in THE AFRICAN QUEEN -- lots of fun, but not better than Marlon Brando in STREETCAR.

Photo: HO

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Geoffrey Rush in SHINE. Nice guy, but what about Tom Cruise in JERRY MAGUIRE?

Geoffrey Rush in SHINE. Nice guy, but what about Tom Cruise in JERRY MAGUIRE?

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Ordinary People: Nothing wrong with it, except that it wasn't the best film of 1980. RAGING BULL was.

Ordinary People: Nothing wrong with it, except that it wasn't the best film of 1980. RAGING BULL was.

Photo: Paramount

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Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL . . . but it's never good to encourage a comedian when he goes sentimental.

Roberto Benigni won the Oscar for LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL . . . but it's never good to encourage a comedian when he goes sentimental.

Photo: SERGIO STRIZZI

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Gwyneth Paltrow in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE? How about Streep in ONE TRUE THING, or Cate Blanchett in ELIZABETH?

Gwyneth Paltrow in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE? How about Streep in ONE TRUE THING, or Cate Blanchett in ELIZABETH?

Photo: Eric Draper / AP Photo

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Al Pacino and Gabrielle Anwar in SCENT OF A WOMAN, 1992. This is what happens when they don't give a guy the Oscars he deserves. They end up giving him an Oscar for the worst performance of his career.

Al Pacino and Gabrielle Anwar in SCENT OF A WOMAN, 1992. This is what happens when they don't give a guy the Oscars he deserves. They end up giving him an Oscar for the worst performance of his career.

Photo: The Chronicle

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Actress Julia Roberts poses with her best actress Oscar for the film "Erin Brockovich" in 2001. How about Laura Linney for YOU CAN COUNT ON ME?

Actress Julia Roberts poses with her best actress Oscar for the film "Erin Brockovich" in 2001. How about Laura Linney for YOU CAN COUNT ON ME?

Photo: REED SAXON

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Robert Donat in a scene from the film 'Goodbye Mr. Chips', 1939. Lovely, but James Stewart should have won for MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON.

Robert Donat in a scene from the film 'Goodbye Mr. Chips', 1939. Lovely, but James Stewart should have won for MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON.

Photo: Archive Photos / Getty Images

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Mary Pickford's Academy Award for COQUETTE was kind of a joke, a case of the fix being in. It should have gone to Jeanne Eagels in THE LETTER.

Mary Pickford's Academy Award for COQUETTE was kind of a joke, a case of the fix being in. It should have gone to Jeanne Eagels in THE LETTER.

Photo: FILE / AP

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Rebecca (1940): Not one of Hitchcock's best.

Rebecca (1940): Not one of Hitchcock's best.

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Jack Lemmon -- I suppose they had to give best actor to him for something, because he'd been great for so many years -- but not the same year that Al Pacino was in SERPICO.

Jack Lemmon -- I suppose they had to give best actor to him for something, because he'd been great for so many years -- but not the same year that Al Pacino was in SERPICO.

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The Silence of the Lambs (1991): In a weak year, this horror movie with flair attracted voters, but it's one of the lesser best picture winners. How about THELMA AND LOUISE . . . or JFK?

The Silence of the Lambs (1991): In a weak year, this horror movie with flair attracted voters, but it's one of the lesser best picture winners. How about THELMA AND LOUISE . . . or JFK?

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Paul Lukas was just swell in WATCH ON THE RHINE, but not better than Humphrey Bogart in CASABLANCA.

Paul Lukas was just swell in WATCH ON THE RHINE, but not better than Humphrey Bogart in CASABLANCA.